Valve stem



Feb. 14, 1939. J. c. cRowLEY VALVE STEM Original Filed March 26, 1934 F/G. i

Patcntcd Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE STEM Original application March 26, 1934, Serial No.

717,327, now Patent No. 2,094,264, dated September 28, 1937.

Divided and this application March 10, 1937, Serial No. 130,052

i claim.

This invention relates to a valve stem and valve for inflatable articles such for example as pneumatic tires.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 717,327, filed March 26, l1934, and now Patent No. 2,094,264, granted Sept. 28, 1937.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined valve stem and valve that is so constructed as to eliminate the use of separate valve insides and valve springs in the stem.

Another object is to provide a combined valve stem and valve such as above specified, which is constructed in'its major part of molded rubber.

A further object is to provide a combined valve stem and valve structure which comprises a mini- 'mum number of parts that will not readily wear out or become inoperative and, in fact, will last for the life of the tire tube to which it is attached.

Further and additional objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafti` during the following description of an embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale of one form of valve stem and valve embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a different form of valve stem and valve from that shown in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 3-3, and 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in thfdirection of the arrows.

' The valve stem and valve shown in Fig; 1 comprises a base IO and an integral stem proper the base and stem proper being formed of molded rubber. The valve stem is adapted to be secured to a tire tube or other inflatable rubber article by vulcanizing the base IO in the proper position upon the exterior of the tube. The stem can be vulcanized and cured in position upon the tube during the curing of the latter and becomes, in effect, an integral structure therewith. The stem is provided with a bore |2 extending from adjacent the outer end of the stem inwardly toward iis inner end to the point |3. The outer end of the bore |2 communicates With a counterbore formed in the stem and which is provided with .a threaded metal insert H that is clamped in the counterbore by means of a metal ferrule |5 and which extends beyond the outerend of the stem, said metal insert being provided with a passage |5 therethrough that is in communication with the bore |2. The stem proper is provided intermediate the ends of the bore |2 with an integral inwardly extending annular projection that has its inner and outer faces of oppositely disposed conical formation, with the inner face of the projection forming a conical valve seat for engagement with a conical valve later to be referred to. The projection provides a restricted opening |8 intermediate the ends of the bore |2. The stem proper is provided with an integral internal portion |9 molded therein and extending from the flat face of the base IO upwardly of the stem and into the bore |2. The internal portion |9 is connected to the stem from the inner face of the base to the point I 3, but that part of the portion I 9 which extends into the bore |2 and lies outwardly of the point |3 is completely surrounded by an annular space 2a defined by the wall of the bore |2 and the outer circumference or periphery of the portion |9, it being understood that the portion |9 is of less dianieter than the diameter of the bore |2. Below the point |3 the stem is provided with slots 20 lying outwardly of the portion |9 and extending downwardly to' the inner face of the base, said slots thus acting to place the bore |2 and the annular space |2a in communication with the tube or article to which the stem is connected. A conical valve 2| is arranged in the bore |2 below the projection |1 and is adapted to seat on the conical face of said projection to seal the opening |8 and stop the passage of air through the bore |2. The lower side of the valve 2| abuts the outer end of the portion |9 and is provided with a. rib 2|a that seats in a transverse groove formed in the outer end of the portion 9. The valve 2| has extending from its outer end a valve pin 2 |b that passes through the opening |8, the bore |2 and through the passage |6 in the insert Il and terminatesfadjacent the outer end of the insert.

`In mounting the valve 2| in the stem the valve is forced inwardly of the stem from the outer end thereof through `the restricted opening |8 defined by the internal projection it being understood that since the stem is formed of rubber said projection may be sufliciently distorted, under force, to increase the size of the opening and to allow the valve to be pushed therethrough. The rib 2|a on the lower side of the valve will engage in the slot in the outer end of the internal portion |9 of the stem and the valve and said portion will then move together. Although the valve may be pushed through the opening defined by the projection |1, it will be understood that when once mounted the air pressure will not be suificient to force the valve outwardly through said opening and that the conical valve will bear against the complementary conical seat aiforded by the under side of the projection l'l and thus seal the passageways through the stem.

When the stem is mounted on an inflatable varticle such as a tire tube, an air chuck or other fitting on an air line can be applied to the outer end of the insert |4 and the valve pin 2|b depressed to cause an unseating of the valve 2| and a compression of the internal portion |9 of the stem, to thus provide an uninterrupted air passageway through the stem, including the passage 16, bore |2, opening |8 and slots 20. When the tube or article has been properly infiated removal of the air chuck allows the portion |9 which has been compressed to assume its normal position with the valve in sealing engagement with the seat on the projection l'l. Of course an air gauge or other device could be applied to the outer end of the insert and the valve moved ofl" its seat in a similar manner.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 a different form of the invention is disclosed from that shown in Fig. 1. In this second form of the invention the valve stem comprises a base 22, from which centrally project in opposite directions a relatively long valve stem 23 and a relatively short valve stem 24, the latter stem being arranged on the inner or flat side of the base. It vvill be understood that the stems and base constitute an integral structure formed of molded rubber. The stem 23 is provided with a longitudinally extending relatively large bore 25 that reaches from adjacent the outer end of the stem 23 and continues on into the stem 24 to the point 26. The outer end of the bore 25 terminates at a counterbore in which is located and secured a metal insert 21, similar to the insert |4 described in connection with Fig. 1. The stem 23 at its lower end and adjacent the base 22 is provided with an integral internal annular projection 28 molded therein and separating the portions of the bore 25 that are in the long stem 23 and the short stem 24, said projection defining a restricted opening 29 placing the parts of the bore 25 in communication. The opposite ends of the projection 28 are formed with oppositely disposed conical surfaces, the lower of which constitutes a valve seat for a conical valve 30 which has -its opposite ends of conical formation and from one of which a valve pin 3| extends through the restricted opening 29 and through the bore 25 into the metal insert 21 terminating adjacent the` outer end of said insert. The short stem 24 has an internal portion 32 molded therein and extending centrally thereof and projecting beyond the point 26 into the bore 25, that part of the portion 32 which projects beyond the point 26 being surrounded by an annular space 33 defined by the wall of the bore 25 and the outer periphery of the portion 32, it being understood that the portion 32 is of less diameter than the diameter of the bore 25. Arcuate slots 34 are formed in the short stem 24 at diametrically opposite sides of the portion 32 and extend from the point 23 to the inner endv of the short stem 24 and thus act to place the bore 25 in communication with the interior of the tire tube or article to which the stem is applied, it being understood that the short stem 24 projects through an opening in the tube or article and that the lower flat side of the base 22 engages the exterior of the tube or article and is secured or vulcanized thereto. The outer end of the portion 32 that extends into the bore 25 isv provided with a conical depression into which seats the conical end of the valve 30 that is opposite to the end carrying the valve pin 3|. It will be understood that the valve 30 is forced through the restricted opening 29 in the same manner as was the valve 2| described with reference to the construction shown in Fig. 1, and that in the infiation or deflation of the article to which the stem is attached the functioning of the parts will be similar to the functioning of the parts of- Fig. 1 as previously described.

It will be noted that in both forms of the invention shown herein the passageways for the air through the stem are of ample magnitude to allow quick infiation and deflation of the tube and that the valve seat and stem being one integral molded structure is sturdy and will last for the life of the tube or article. A combined valve stem and valve such as has just been described possesses the advantage of being inexpensive, inasmuch as it eliminates the necessity of the use of separate valve insides and valve Springs in the stem. Also the stem possesses the useful function of a rubber stem, in that it can pull through the rim opening =in the case of quick deflation of the tire tube such as occurswith a puncture or blow-out. 'Additionally, the form of stem shown in Fig. 2 possesses the advantage due to having the short valve stem 24 on the underside of its base, that it can be properly centered and located with respect to the opening in the tire tube or article when being applied thereto.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A combined valve and valve stem comprising a molded rubber stem having a base adapted to be attached to a tire tube, said stem extending in opposite directions from the center of said base and being provided with a bore extending from the outer end of the stem to adjacent its inner end, a rubber portion integrally molded in said stem and closing the inner end of said bore and extending into the latter, a slot formed in said stem adjacent said portion and extending from said bore to the inner end of said stem, means integral with the stem intermediate the ends of said bore forming a restricted opening and a seat, and valve means carried by said portion and normally held seated thereby against said seat to seal the opening.

` JoHN c. cRoWLEY. 

